Mystery solved?

There’s been a fair amount of news in the Fibromyalgia world recently, as more and more research is being undertaken to identify pathology, common symptoms and potentially causes.

I don’t think I’ve ever read an article on Fibromyalgia that doesn’t refer to the fact that it’s

“ALL IN YOUR MIND”

However, I’m lucky enough to have never met a medical professional who has said that to me. Here are the favourites I have experienced though:

“Well, you don’t look as unwell as many of my patients” Pain Consultant

“You seemed to be coping just fine, I’m surprised by your tears” GP

“We should explore your relationship with your father” Rheumatologist

The research published this month looks at skin samples from the hands of Fibromyalgia patients, which showed “an extremely excessive amount of a particular type of nerve fiber”, and this nerve fibers have a direct link with widespread body pain.

What does it all mean?

Well I imagine it means something very different to every single Fibromyalgia patient, but to me it means that something is being done. For a long time I read so many medical research studies into so many things, and my biggest worry was that nobody really cared about Fibromyalgia. They didn’t get it, and therefore it didn’t matter. To me, this research shows that things are moving. Yes, they’re moving at the pace of an old man snail, but they’re moving and that’s something.

I’ve got to say, I always thought snails were quite cute but…looking at this beast above I’m not so sure now.

But, snails aside, this is good stuff.

And you know what else? I’m very lucky to have incredible friends and family looking out for me, they’re like my little helpers. When one of these little helpers sent this study my way, it reminded me that this isn’t just good news for Fibromyalgia patients, but it’s good news for all our little helpers that are touched by our pain as well.

“The breakthrough also could solve the lingering question of why many sufferers have extremely painful hands as well as other “tender points” throughout the body, and why cold weather seems to aggravate the symptoms.”